Tartine, the bakery with ancient flours and quality products

What if we went back to bread basics? I'm not talking about the perfect baguette with its honeycombed crumb and crisp crust, I'm talking about real bread made with respect for the raw material, without the addition of gluten, yeast or additives. I'm talking about bread and other bakery products based on modern wheat-free flours that have been genetically modified to give the best possible yield.

At a time when everyone is asking questions about the contents of their plates, breads and flours in particular are being singled out for criticism. Studies tend to prove that modern wheat, far too rich in gluten and other additives, could not only be the cause of digestive disorders, but could also provoke or aggravate autoimmune diseases that take years to emerge. To avoid these disorders or intolerances, a large number of people are turning to gluten-free diets. But what if we went against the grain of mass industrialization and went back to the way our ancestors made bread, using flours that remained natural?

Éric Delagarde and Pierre André Segura can't say they haven't been through the traditional bakery. With their bakery, Graine de Créateurs, they have won the trophy for the best "Tradition" baguette in the 92 region, as well as for the best farmhouse bread and the best croissant. So they know all about technique and know-how.

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But these two enthusiasts, always striving to offer their customers the very best, have always challenged themselves. Constantly self-training and assisted by nutritionists, they decided to completely rethink the way they worked. Tartine's ambition and watchword is to return to bread that is natural, typical, nourishing and as easily digestible as possible.

How do they do it? To achieve their goal, they have sourced all the ingredients that go into the factory. Rye, petit épeautre, buckwheat, Khorosan and Meule de blé are the flours used. Ancestral flours that contain very little gluten.

Organic flours, of course, from Michel Carol Patin (farmer miller), which have the particularity of being ground on the Astrié millstone. A small millstone that preserves all the nutrients and minerals. Yes, even the way we make flour has a role to play in the quality of our diet!

Then comes the manufacturing process. As you can imagine, everything has been rethought. When you do away with yeast and other additives, and work exclusively with rye or petit-épeautre sourdough, you completely change the way you make bread. No more kneading to make the dough elastic, at Tartine we knead gently with osmosed water and leave the leaven time to do its work. A little leaven, a gentle kneading and a lot of patience, that's what makes Tartine's bread so good.

When you taste them, don't be surprised if they seem more compact, but that's normal for natural breads. On the other hand, what flavors! And you'll be full in no time. You'll discover tastes you've never tasted before, breads that aren't too acidic and that keep very well.

But Tartine isn't just bread. It's also cakes, brioches, cakes, salads and hearty sandwiches made with quality ingredients. At Tartine, we avoid refined foods such as white sugar, which only provides empty calories, and replace them with maple syrup or whole cane sugar, which provide more nutrients.

Organic fruit and vegetables, eggs labeled and verified on site, everything is traceable, so you can know everything about the provenance of what you're eating. You'll also find freshly squeezed fruit juices and a fine selection of organic teas and coffees.

Among the choices on offer, let yourself be tempted by the Sécale tartine made from rye bread; smoked salmon, coleslaw with horseradish and sprouted leek seeds, which reflect the richness and uniqueness of this cereal with its tangy, spicy flavors, or the delicious Khorosan tartine with toasted Khorasan, tuna, wasabi-mayonnaise, daikon, avocado and black seaweed, which blends perfectly with the cereal's slightly sweet, nutty flavors. Unless you fancy a vegan version.

Menu prices range from €8.50 to €13.50, which is a very affordable price for fresh, healthy products. You can take away or sit down with your tray at one of the tables, the ideal spot for a gourmet lunch or snack.

In short, why not give it a try and see for yourself?